Richard Soseman – Little League All-Star
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Richard Soseman
I am a native of Campbell’s Island, Illinois, a small island in the Mississippi River near the Quad Cities. It never had a grade or high school, as far as I can tell, although the “white man” has been living there off an on for 200 years. I am the product of Catholic Schools: grade (St. Anne ’77), high (Alleman ’81), college and graduate school (Marquette U ’85 & ’87) and seminary (Mt. St. Mary ’92). I was drawn to this site by my interest in history, small towns, and sports. I noticed, also, that a few closed Catholic High Schools from Western Illinois were not yet listed, and so began some contribution. My mother grew up in Henry County, and yes, I also have relatives in Atkinson, Mineral, Annawan, Kewanee. I lived in Princeville for 10 years and was pastor of the Catholic Church there. My Peoria office for almost 15 years was located in the former Convent of the Academy of Our Lady, which closed in 1988. I enjoy following the Princeville Lincoln Trail games against schools I have known my entire life. In January, 2008 I was appointed to the Vatican, so will follow Illinois sports, as well as help with these pages, from some distance!
The small town schools which have closed over the years, public and private, represent the people of a certain time and place. Each month passing takes us farther from those people. It is vital that we keep some record, and this site does an admirable job at keeping that memory alive.
History, photography and writing have always been interests of mine, so I enjoy hanging out around here. I am fascinated by the architectural features of some of the closed buildings, and what they tell us about the people who built the structures. Seeing the decrepit high school at miniscule LaRose, photographing the gymnasium at Rutland, seeing how quickly a grand high school building can fall apart at Newman, finding out about “terrible” ball club at Andover have been fascinating, and this enthusiasm is hopefully transmitted to those who visit the website.
That enthusiasm for a forgotten high school truly exists, in the heart of an alum, in the spirit of a student of history, in a fan of the glory of sports. I’ve seen it a few times when I have talked about the site. Friends and family have shared memories. A few times they have broken into a long neglected fight song, eyes glowing with appreciation of a now discontinued alma mater.”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Sadly Monsignor Richard Soseman passed into eternal life on December 09, 2020. Monsignor Soseman was a wonderful person and friend. He was also an avid supporter of the Glory Days website. Thank you, Monsignor Soseman, for your incredible service to God and for your assistance with this website. You are truly missed.
Monsignor Soseman Mass Card 12/09/2020
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Monsignor Soseman Mass Card 12/09/2020
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Phil & Betty Shadid
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Glory Days Site Author & His Wife
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Phil Shadid
I was born and raised in Springfield, IL, attended McClernand Public Grade School, St. Joseph’s Catholic Grade School, and Lanphier High School. I come from a family of 11 (I’m the youngest). I carried a newspaper route in downtown Springfield for several years, worked in my brothers’ book store, and then had a 33-year career with the Springfield Post Office. Also worked at a local mailing service company for 11 years.
My beloved wife and best friend Betty passed away in February 2014. We had a great life together sharing love of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and baking (well known for vegetable soup, “Ra-ta-2-E” and pies). The first thing she cooked for me was vegetable soup. We got married soon after! She was an avid reader, gardener, traveler and sometimes casino winner. Her maiden name was Betty Jean Ralph, born and raised in the north end of Springfield, baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where she was a member her entire life. Graduated from St. Joseph’s Grade School and Glory Days member Springfield Ursuline Academy. Was a nurse for 28 years. She was pleased that I wrote the story of her Alma Mater, and always encouraged me to research the old schools and to not give up my hobby in the future.
I’m proud to say that my research produced entries into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame for the 1941 Feitshans High School basketball team and the 1937 St. James Trade School football team. Another proud moment was when Homer “Buster” Bartholomew, legendary coach/teacher/principal of the early 20th Century was inducted into the Chatham Glenwood Hall of Fame in 2010. I’ve always been interested in history (my best subject in school; to the detriment of other subjects!). Through research and visits with various people I’ve made several new friends who were happy to share their memories of their old schools. That’s why I enjoy the Glory Days so much.
Roberta VanBriesen
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SVHS Class of 1966
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Roberta VanBriesen
I grew up across the street from the Stillman Valley High School. The original building was built in 1927, when my dad was a sophomore. As a child I enjoyed sitting on the front porch watching the high schoolers. This was before the days of the school cafeteria, so the kids would, in good weather, eat their sack lunches on the grounds, and then pair off, or as a group walk up the street in front of my house. I admired the girls saddle shoes with rolled Bobby sox, the popular draw string purses and cardigan sweater sets. Being a farming community, many of the guys wore the blue FFA jackets. I couldn’t wait to be in high school. (these “kids” are in their 70’s now)
In the 1940’s Stillman had absorbed some of the students when the Kishwaukee and Kings High Schools closed. They also accepted the high school students of Davis Junction, part of Holcomb Grade, Lindenwood Grade, Kishwaukee Grade, Kings Grade, and Paynes Point, a one room school in a tiny community closed about 1958.
I remember watching the first athletic field being built. Football was new in town. The one room schools were closing and being auctioned. My dad and I attended many of these auctions. He was a local history enthusiast with a new camera. Luckily he took photos of many of them. Our 1879 grade school, with two grades to a room was bursting at the seams, so an addition with 4 more classrooms and a basement cafeteria was built in 1954. Kindergarten, which lasted only a few weeks in the spring, was moved from the church basement to the school basement. I was in that first class.
The cafeteria was a wonderful thing. It not only provided a nutritious hot lunch with milk to the students, it became a community meeting place. It was a place for the newly formed Lions Club to meet, many fund raising dinners were held there, in addition to vision and hearing tests, and polio shots. We watched movies there, and the inaugural of JFK and John Glenn come back.
In the late 50’s, Monroe Center HS closed, and they joined the Stillman district. This time it was the high school that was bursting at the seams. A large addition was built, with a beautiful gym and a multiple level music room. The cafeteria was relocated to the former gym, and the home ec room featured turquoise St Charles kitchens! I graduated there in 1966.
A new and larger high school was built in the mid 70’s and the former high school building became the Meridian Jr. High. Later, the 1927 building was razed, and a new addition was built.
As I look at the photos on IHSGD, I see many schools much like mine. I hear the basketball game noise, the bands playing, and see the drivers Ed car go slowly down the street. Many changes are not made without controversary, but things do change. It was said the Monroe Center annexation was harder on the parents than the kids. Over the years, the wounds have healed. The fledgling football program has become a 4A powerhouse team with several state championships. A very large and respected FHA chapter has faded away, but the FFA program is going strong. Academics have always been a priority. It’s a school to be proud of. Some of the kids even got married!
Luckily, Stillman Valley has grown. It has tripled in population since the 50’s. Sadly, downtown has been hit hard. Most of our retail businesses, including 2 nice grocery stores have faded away. The bowling alley and drive in are gone. The memories linger tho. I am so glad our school survived, but I do miss the old days.
I am just a small town girl. I have 4 sons and 1 daughter. Luckily, several of them are interested in local history, and will sit and listen to me ramble on or stop and turn their car around so I can take a photo of a tumbledown school building somewhere.
I was a customer service rep at Kable Fufillment in Mt Morris for 15 years. My particular position allowed me to be on the Internet as long as I did my job. I had been looking for info on the former schools of Illinois, and one day I saw an article about IHSGD, and it was just what I wanted! I had time to do research, and loved finding schools. I even had photos to share. The less than 4 year schools all closed in 1948, that makes their students around 80 years old now. None should be forgotten.
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